Knights Cutlet Food

KOTLET SCHABOWY: BREADED PORK LOIN CUTLET / PORK CHOP

Steps:

• Divide the meat into four (or eight) cutlets of equal thickness.
• Trim the exterior of any fat and sinew. If you leave it, it will cause the meat to shrink and curl during frying.
• Place the meat on a cutting board, one cutlet at the time. Cover it with a layer of cling film (plastic wrap) and pound it with the flat side of a meat tenderizer. The thickness will depend on individual preferences. Personally, I like them when they are roughly ¼ inch (5-6 mm) thick. Repeat with all the remaining cutlets.
• Pour the milk into a bowl, large enough to hold all the meat.
• Add in two garlic cloves (peeled and lightly crushed with a knife), thinly sliced onion, salt and pepper. If you have dried bay leaves and all-spice berries in your pantry, add them as well. Stir everything together with a fork.
• Place the cutlets into the milky bowl. If they're not covered well enough, you can top up the milk.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap (cling film) and refrigerate for 3-4 hours, and ideally overnight.
• Before continuing, pat the meat dry (using a paper towel), to remove any excessive moisture.
• Set up a breading station - for this process I use soup plates, but wide and shallow bowls are great too. Flour goes into one bowl, raw egg (whisked) into another, and the breadcrumbs into the last one.
• We'll be working in batches: bread, fry, repeat. My cutlets are enormous, therefore I have to fry them one by one.
• Heat up the lard in a large frying pan (skillet) on medium-high heat.
• Firstly, dredge both sides of each cutlet in flour, then dip in the beaten egg mixture, allowing the excess egg to drip. Finally, dip it into the breadcrumbs, turning over to cover all sides. I'm using a fork for the whole process (it's easier and cleaner).
• Sauté each cutlet for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. If it's browning too quickly, reduce the heat. If the frying pan becomes too dry, add more lard. Repeat the process until you're out of cutlets.
• To keep fried cutlets warm until you're done with them all, you can cover them with aluminum foil, or keep them in a warm oven.
• Before serving, pat each cutlet with a paper towel to remove any excessive fat.
• Serve while hot, with a lemon wedge on the side (optional)

CRISPY PANKO CHICKEN CUTLETS

Steps:

• Using a mallet, gently beat the chicken breasts to a uniform thickness. (This prevents the chicken breasts from shrinking and promotes even cooking.).
• Combine the flour, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper in one bowl. Place the egg and water mixture into another. Put the Panko bread crumbs into a third bowl. Dredge chicken with seasoned flour and pass through egg mixture. Shake off excess egg. For an even crispier crust, dredge with flour again and pass through egg mixture one more time.
• Now completely cover chicken breasts with Panko crumbs, pressing crumbs down gently if needed.
• Heat oil in frying pan on medium-high heat. Cook for 4 minutes on each side (or until no longer pink inside) and serve.

PANKO-CRUSTED PORK CUTLET WITH CUCUMBER-DAIKON RELISH

Steps:

• For the dressing: Wisk together the rice wine vinegar, fish sauce and brown sugar in a small bowl and set aside.
• For the relish: Combine the mint, daikon, scallion, cucumber, garlic, chile and cilantro in a medium bowl. Pour the dressing on top and stir together. Let rest while cooking the pork chops.
• For the pork chops: Place the flour and some salt in one bowl, eggs in another, and the panko and coconut in another. Dredge the pork chops in the flour, then the egg, and then the panko mixture. Repeat with other pork chop.
• Heat some olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium-high heat. When hot, fry the pork chops until golden brown on both sides and 145 degrees F at the center, 7 to 10 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and rest for about 5 minutes.
• Serve the pork chops alongside the relish.

PORK CUTLETS

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, beat the egg white and water until it starts to foam. Stir in a teaspoon of dry mustard. Season cutlet with salt and pepper. Dip the cutlet in flour, then the egg mixture, coating thoroughly, and then in the breadcrumbs. Be sure that both sides are covered well. Set aside, or refrigerate, covered by a piece of waxed paper or plastic wrap.
• Heat the oil in a heavy frying pan until hot. Add the cutlet, lower the heat slightly, and cook for about 2 minutes. Turn with a spatula, and brown the other side. Continue cooking, turning once again if necessary, until the pork is cooked through, about 5 minutes in total. When done, the flesh will be white. Drain on a paper bag. Serve with a squeeze of lime.
• Serve with potato and leeks